Senior Advisor - Environment and Land

Contact Energy; Southland; On-site; NZD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working

KiwiSaver contributions

Good to be Home annual payment

Southern Cross health insurance (fixed

Job summary

Contact Energy is seeking a Senior Advisor – Environment & Land to join our Sustainability team on a 24‑month fixed term basis in Southland. You’ll lead environmental management plans, approvals, compliance and stakeholder commitments to support a large renewable energy development from readiness to delivery.

You’ll partner with project teams, ecologists, contractors, councils, iwi and regulators, providing on‑site environmental leadership and shaping environmental outcomes across multiple

Qualifications

• Significant experience in environmental management across infrastructure, construction, renewable energy, utilities or similar projects.
• Strong knowledge of environmental compliance, ecological management, approvals, and risk management.
• Experience engaging with councils, regulators, consultants, landowners, iwi and communities.
• Ability to navigate complexity and balance competing priorities with sound judgment.
• Excellent relationship-building, communication, and influencing skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead environmental management plans, approvals, compliance requirements and readiness activities.
• Partner with project managers, site teams, consultants, ecologists, contractors, councils, iwi and regulators.
• Influence environmental management approaches, stakeholder engagement and construction planning.
• Navigate environmental, ecological, land and stakeholder considerations across multiple workstreams.
• Provide environmental leadership through planning, enabling works, construction readiness and delivery.
• Contribute to broader renewable developments by sharing lessons across Contact’s portfolio.
• Spend significant time on site working with project teams and contractors in live environments.

Skills

Environmental management

Stakeholder engagement

Regulatory compliance

Project delivery

On-site leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree in environmental science or related discipline

Job description

Te Tākinatanga | Our Story

At Contact, we believe home is the most important place in the world. That belief shapes everything we do, from leading the energy transition to how we power Aotearoa and care for our people and communities.

We’re a power, broadband, and mobile company, but we’re also investing boldly in renewable energy and smarter, more connected ways of working. Our ambition is simple: to leave Aotearoa better than we found it.

Guided by our values and behaviours, we’re a team who care deeply about the work we do, how we support one another, and the impact we have. Simply put, we touch lives to make life better.

As Contact continues to grow its renewable generation portfolio, we're looking for a Senior Advisor – Environment & Land to join our Sustainability team on a 24‑month fixed term basis.

This role has been established to provide dedicated environmental and stakeholder leadership across a significant renewable energy development in Southland, while also contributing to future renewable projects across Aotearoa.

You’ll play a key role in ensuring environmental commitments, approvals, stakeholder obligations, and ecological outcomes are successfully integrated into project delivery. Working alongside project leaders, technical specialists, contractors, landowners, iwi, councils, and regulators, you’ll influence how environmental outcomes are achieved throughout the project lifecycle.

For someone who wants to see their work translated into tangible outcomes on the ground, this is a rare opportunity to be involved from project development and construction readiness through to delivery on one of Contact’s most significant renewable energy projects.

TeWhiwhingamahi | The Opportunity

This role sits at the intersection of environmental stewardship and major project delivery.

You’ll take ownership of a broad range of environmental activities that are critical to preparing a large‑scale renewable energy development for construction and supporting its successful delivery. From environmental management plans and stakeholder commitments through to compliance obligations and on‑site environmental oversight, you’ll play a key role in ensuring environmental outcomes remain embedded in project decision‑making.

In this role, you will:

• Lead the coordination and delivery of environmental management plans, approvals, compliance requirements, and project readiness activities.
• Partner closely with project managers, site teams, consultants, ecologists, contractors, councils, iwi, landowners, and regulatory agencies.
• Influence environmental management approaches, stakeholder engagement activities, construction planning, and project delivery decisions.
• Navigate complex environmental, ecological, land, and stakeholder considerations across multiple workstreams and competing priorities.
• Provide environmental leadership throughout planning, enabling works, construction readiness, and delivery phases.
• Contribute to broader renewable energy developments by applying lessons learned and sharing expertise across Contact’s growing portfolio.
• As the project progresses, you’ll spend significant time on site, working alongside project teams and contractors in a live construction environment. Success in this role comes from understanding both environmental outcomes and the realities of project delivery, and being comfortable working where those two worlds meet.

This is an opportunity to shape environmental outcomes while working on a project that will leave a lasting impact on Aotearoa’s renewable energy future.

Kowaike| About You

You’re an experienced environmental practitioner who brings both technical credibility and practical delivery expertise. You understand how to achieve strong environmental outcomes within complex project environments and know how to build trust with diverse stakeholder groups while balancing competing priorities.

Most importantly, you’ll enjoy getting close to the work. You’re comfortable in active project and construction environments, value being where decisions become reality, and understand that effective environmental leadership often requires a strong on‑site presence.

You’ll likely bring:

• Significant experience in environmental management across infrastructure, construction, renewable energy, utilities, natural resource management, or similarly complex project environments.
• Strong knowledge of environmental compliance, ecological management, environmental effects, approvals, and risk management.
• Experience engaging with councils, regulators, consultants, contractors, landowners, iwi, and community stakeholders.
• The ability to navigate complexity, exercise sound judgement, and remain composed when working through challenging issues or competing demands.
• Exceptional relationship‑building, communication, and influencing capability.
• Experience managing consultants, technical specialists, contractors, or external delivery partners.
• Relevant qualifications in environmental science, natural resource management, planning, ecology, law, or a related discipline.

This role will suit someone who enjoys balancing technical expertise, stakeholder engagement, and practical execution while remaining focused on achieving positive environmental outcomes.

Additional Information

This is a 24‑month fixed term full‑time opportunity.

We support flexible working where it works for the individual, the team, and the business. Given the nature of this role, flexibility will be balanced with the importance of strong site relationships, stakeholder engagement, and project delivery. Regular site presence in Southland will be required, particularly as the project progresses towards construction. We’re open to candidates located elsewhere in the South Island who can maintain consistent and meaningful engagement with the project and its stakeholders.

Contact is not a place you’ll stagnate. Even in a fixed term role, you’ll enjoy a generous suite of benefits designed to support your wellbeing and make life a little easier. You’ll have the flexibility to work in ways that suit you and your team, access to our Good to be Home annual payment, boosted KiwiSaver contributions, and a range of additional benefits and discounts. For fixed term employees engaged for 18 months or longer, Southern Cross health insurance is also included.

Applications close on Friday 25th September. But just like peak demand, great talent surges early, so if this role sparks your interest,

We love a good story at Contact. If you’re excited by the opportunity to lead environmental outcomes on a major renewable energy project and want to play a meaningful role in Aotearoa’s energy future, we’d love to hear yours.

Here at Contact Energy (Te Mata Hiko), we know our strength lies in developing a sense of belonging - one that helps us attract and retain people with a broad range of perspectives and experiences.

We’re committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels valued, respected, and empowered to bring their whole selves to work. Our goal is to reflect the diversity of our customers and communities to help build a better Aotearoa New Zealand.

We have a rich community of talented people that we support to thrive at Contact.

Our inclusive hiring process is designed to embrace the diversity of Aotearoa New Zealand, ensuring a wide range of perspectives are included in our decision‑making and helping reduce bias along the way.

The wellbeing of our kaimahi is super important to us.

We use employee insights to offer a range of initiatives and resources to support physical, mental, financial and emotional wellbeing – including flexible working arrangements, employee network groups and a market‑leading parental leave policy.

At Te Mata Hiko, we want everyone to thrive. We welcome applicants far and wide - of every age, stage, background, and pride. Join us and be part of a team that values your passion and attitude just as much as your experience and skills.

Please note, only candidates with the right to live and work in New Zealand will be considered for this role.

Research shows that while men apply to jobs where they meet 60% of the criteria, women and those in underrepresented groups tend to only apply if they tick every box.We're not about box ticking, so if you think you have what it takes but don't meet everything stated above, please still get in touch. We'd love to kōrero.

Te Mata Hiko (Contact Energy) does not accept any CVs received from recruitment agencies where a formal engagement has not been confirmed and agreed to with our Talent team. In the event that unsolicited CVs are submitted by recruitment agencies, Te Mata Hiko (Contact Energy) reserves the right to contact these candidates directly and consider them for current/future vacancies without any financial obligation to the recruitment agency in question. This will also apply to any CVs sent directly to line managers.